Caseville Township voters to decide insect millage

Seth Stapleton Tribune StaffWriter

Published
5:00 am CDT, Friday, August 10, 2018

CASEVILLE — It wasn't a standing ovation, but it was a pretty animated round of applause.

Following a discussion about placing an insect suppression millage proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot, the Caseville Township Board of Trustees decided to take it to the voters and approve the resolution. The decision pleased most of the over 25 people in attendance at this week's meeting, and it was met with many cheers of approval.

The proposed millage will be .4 mills for four years, which will raise $76,500 per year. This will be for a ground spraying effort to help control mosquitos in the township.

"Basically, what we're doing with this resolution is putting it on the ballot to let the people of the township decide," said Supervisor Ben Willenberg.

Added Willenberg: "I think it's a good thing to let the people decide in November."

While the millage is being requested to take care of what some have described as a major mosquito problem, the insect suppression wording was used in case the township encounters some other infestation problem in the future. As an example, should the township encounter another gypsy moth problem, the money could be used for that as well.

"That's the purpose for not calling it mosquito suppression — so that if there is a gypsy moth problem, our fund balance will handle it," said Clerk Michelle Stirrett. "We're not limited just to gypsy moth suppression or mosquito suppression, it's insect suppression. We can use this money for both problems."

Randy Elenbaum, of Sand Point, was part of an effort that helped gather around 200 signatures in favor of putting the insect suppression proposal on the ballot. He said the group encountered only a few people who would not sign on to back the cause, which he — and others in attendance — called a township-wide problem.

"Thank you very much for giving us back, hopefully, our sunrises and sunsets with no mosquitos along the shoreline," Elenbaum said. "That's what we're asking for — to have our evening life back."

Also at the meeting, the board approved two separate actions at the former Greenview Poultry Farm property, which surrounds the township's L-shaped property at Caseville Road and Ann Drive. The township bought the property back in January, and will now be demolishing the large building down to its concrete slab, while upgrading the other two smaller buildings with power washing, painting and other exterior upgrades.

The demolition was approved for an amount not to exceed $40,000; while the exterior upgrades were at an amount not to exceed $11,265. The smaller buildings will be used for storage at that point.